Donor Spotlight, 2025

Ms. Luci Baines Johnson: A Lifelong Champion for Nursing and Gerontological Care

A devoted friend and generous supporter of the School of Nursing, philanthropist and businesswoman Luci Baines Johnson has long been a dedicated advocate for nursing, health care and the well-being of older adults.

Her commitment to advancing the nursing profession, particularly in gerontological nursing, has earned her widespread respect and, most recently, recognition as an Honorary Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) in 2025. 

When asked what it means to her to be honored by the AAN, Johnson’s answer was “simply everything.” 

“Since I was a student nurse at Georgetown University 65 years ago, I have devoted much of my life to the advancement of nursing education,” she added. “And in return, nursing has given me the greatest gift of all: a purpose-driven life.”

Johnson has made significant contributions to the field of nursing, including participating in the accreditation of baccalaureate and master’s programs through her service on the National League of Nursing’s Board of Review. She has also advocated for the National League for Nursing before the U.S. Congress. 

Thanks to the School of Nursing’s inaugural Dean Emerita Billye J. Brown, Johnson was named an honorary member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She has served on the Advisory Councils of the UT Austin School of Nursing and Georgetown University, helping to raise funds for professorships, scholarships and lectureships, and providing major support for gerontologic and geriatric nursing programs at both institutions. 

“Luci Baines Johnson’s lifelong dedication to advocating for improving health and well-being in our communities exemplifies the very spirit of nursing leadership,” said UT Austin School of Nursing Dean Eun-Ok Im, PhD, MPH, RN, CNS, FAAN. “Her deep ties to public service and her unwavering support for the nursing profession make her an inspiring and most deserving recipient of this prestigious honor.”

This recognition celebrates her impactful contributions to nursing education, advocacy and philanthropy.

“I was privileged to work closely with Luci Baines Johnson during my time as dean of the School of Nursing,” said Alexa Stuifbergen, PhD, RN, FAAN, James R. Dougherty Jr. Centennial Professor in Nursing, who served as dean from 2010 to 2023. “As a renowned and respected community leader, Luci has always been an enthusiastic and effective supporter of nursing at the local, state and national level. Her leadership, advocacy and financial support have impacted the lives of countless individual students and faculty, as well as systems of care and federal support for nursing education. I was honored to work with a fellow UT Austin alumnus, Dr. Ken Dion, to nominate her as an Honorary FAAN.”

A Lifelong Connection to Nursing

Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson, has a connection to nursing as personal as it is profound. In 1964, she enrolled in the School of Nursing at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., driven by a deep desire to enter the profession. But after two semesters, an engagement to her boyfriend presented an unexpected dilemma. At the time, Georgetown, like many universities, particularly nursing schools, had policies prohibiting married students from continuing their education. Faced with the choice to stay in school or get married, she chose the latter. She settled in Austin with her family and continued her passion for nursing and commitment to supporting the profession.

Advocacy Rooted in History

Johnson’s advocacy for nursing dates back decades. 

In the 1970s, UT System Chancellor Harry H. Ransom recognized her deep interest in nursing and invited her to join the Advisory Council for what was then known as the UT System School of Nursing, and later, the UT Austin School of Nursing. 

Her commitment to advancing the profession continued through her service as a trustee on hospital boards, including MD Anderson Cancer Center, and her involvement with numerous community organizations.

In the 1970s, Billye J. Brown, then dean of the School of Nursing, played a pivotal role in mentoring Johnson, helping her cultivate the skills to champion professional nursing education in the legislative arena.

In 1986, at the request of nursing leaders, Johnson testified before the U.S. Congress to advocate for continued funding of nursing education and research amid growing federal budget cuts. Her compelling testimony underscored the vital role nurses play in improving maternal and child health outcomes and cautioned against reducing investments in nursing education and research. Her efforts helped strengthen support for the National Institute for Nursing Research at the National Institutes of Health, establishing nursing research as a key pillar of national health innovation.

Motivated by a deep concern for the critical shortage of nurses and nursing educators, Johnson served as Honorary Chair of Nurses for a Healthier Tomorrow—a coalition of 43 health care organizations dedicated to promoting the nursing profession through a national outreach campaign. 

In recognition of her enduring commitment to the nursing profession, Johnson has received numerous prestigious honors over the years. In 1985, she became one of the first “non-nurses” to be inducted as an Honorary Member of Sigma Theta Tau, the international nursing honor society, in acknowledgment of her significant contributions through advocacy, policy and philanthropy. She was later awarded Sigma’s highest honor, the Archon Award, in 2022. Further cementing her legacy, Georgetown University awarded her an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters in 2018, celebrating her lifelong dedication to advancing health care and nursing education.

Philanthropy and the Power of Giving

In May 2020, during National Nurses Week and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson and her second husband, Ian J. Turpin, made a transformative gift to the School of Nursing. 

This gift, dedicated to the memories of Lady Bird Johnson and Margaretta Turpin—Ian’s mother, a World War II Army Nurse—aimed to support gerontological nursing education and care for older adults, particularly those impacted by the pandemic.

The funds have been used to provide scholarships for nursing students specializing in gerontology, support critical aging initiatives, strengthen clinical programs serving older adults and address emergency needs related to the pandemic. This gift was a timely and meaningful investment in nursing’s ability to care for one of the most vulnerable populations during a critical moment in health care history.

The Johnson-Turpin Center for Gerontological Nursing

Building on this legacy, the Luci Baines Johnson and Ian J. Turpin Center for Gerontological Nursing was established at the School of Nursing in 2022. The Center serves as a hub for excellence in gerontological nursing education, research and practice. Its mission is to lead innovative community-based and clinical research focused on improving health, independence and quality of life for diverse aging adults and their caregivers. The Center also mentors future nursing leaders and disseminates knowledge to advance gerontological nursing locally and globally.

Honoring a Legacy, Inspiring the Future

Johnson’s recognition as an honorary Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing is a testament to her lifelong dedication to nursing advocacy, education and philanthropy. By supporting the next generation of nursing professionals and advancing research in gerontology, she honors countless nurses who transform lives every day.

As the nursing profession faces the challenges of a growing aging population, leaders like Johnson remind us that advocacy, compassion and investment in education remain the keys to healthier communities and brighter futures.

“For those who love the nursing profession, there could be no greater honor than to be inducted into the American Academy of Nursing,” Johnson said.